Indeed Welcome to Indigo Whisky Zero Two Two for the 11th of October 2007.

The last show was a couple of weeks ago and came from the West of Dingle studio. These past few weeks have been rather busy, I went firstly to Podcamp-UK a great event held at Birmingham, a city in the West Midlands of England, that has really changed since my last visit. It has the matching end British Telecom Tower (Birmingham) – [Wikipedia] of the microwave phone link that is matched with what was previously called the PostOffice Tower, now is the BT tower BT Tower - [Wikipedia] in London. And to take a short diversion down a rat-hole, I find it interesting to know that one of the intermediate links in that microwave chain is in Stokenchurch BT Tower - [Wikipedia] where the huge and rare raptor birds, Red Kite - [Wikipedia], were reintroduced and can be seen soaring and swooping around the tower. Its on the route we took to Birmingham. Then we were off on our holiday to Ireland, to Dingle and West and finishing up on the way back to Wokingham, with a stop in Kilkenny for PodCamp Ireland.

In Ireland, following my mission of comparing and contrasting Wokingham with elsewhere, another link in the history of the all things Internet occurred to me.( Recording: a series of pipes) on the next peninsular south of Dingle is Valentia Island where the first Transatlantic telegraph cable

comes ashore in Europe with the US end in Newfoundland It was successfully laid after several previous failures by Isambard Kingdom Brunel's SS Great Eastern

and it is still linked-on from the coast by the same type of British Telecom microwave network - [Wikipedia] used in the UK. If you are interested in diving down this rat-hole further, check out the show-notes for lots of links.

Returning to Podcamp Ireland....

Although the number of attendees was smaller than at the UK event, it was just as welcoming. I found everyone friendly at both places though others enjoyed the traditional Irish welcome more. Certainly one difference I noted was that the UK crowd seemed more upfront, somewhat older and more involved with the media in their day to day jobs. I met up with some of the same faces in the both UK and Ireland, including Neville Hobson who is from Wokingham and produces an excellent PR and Marketing Show with Shel Holtz, a colleague of his , the show is called FIR ( For Immediate Release: The Hobson and Holtz Report ), Brian Greene from Ireland Talking Voices : Podcast Production, one of the organisers, and Dean Whitbread from the UK an enthusiastic supporter of shows being delivered as this one is.

I plan to do some separate shows about my trips to the Podcamps and my trip to Bedford Beer Festival, featuring more video and interviews with Morris Dancers, something that has become a regular slot for inWokingham it seems. My thinking on this is, that this content is of interest, to more than just those who listen to inWokingham and it will allow me focus THIS inWokingham show on the raft of news that has come in over the last two weeks.

The weather in Wokingham has been pretty wet while I was away and there were many dull days, although the sunny ones have been warmly welcomed. I think Ireland was getting the best of weather, maybe a result of the La Nina conditions, which I think have changed the flow of the weather systems that come over the Atlantic from the US. Which itself is still having a late summer heatwave in places like Chicago and New York, as we heard on reports about last Sunday's marathon And those who struggled to cope with the heat.eg. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/news/08102007news.shtml

Now we have passed the autumn equinox the nights are drawing in more quickly and we shall soon, be moving the clocks back an hour, to bring us off the Summer DayLight Savings Time and return us to GMT or UTC as its becoming known.

Under matters Arising from the last show:

On IW020 I played the two Esteban tracks in the wrong order. They came from a sampler CD that Esteban gave me when at PodcampUK where they were the guest band. Unfortunately I played them in the opposite order to that that I intended so I will correct the credit here and now.

“Say it Loud” was in fact the second track and Mass Aura was the first. I'm sorry for that it did rather spoil my carefully thought out intro, but both tracks are up on the PMN for you to replay at any time. And I found video of the group playing “Say it loud” on the web, check the show-notes for a link. Estebanuk at podcamp UK in Birmingham - watch the video, vlog, or video podcast on Mefeedia

Music: sputnick from Nasa

Talking of the equinox, I've commented before on the stars and clear sky's in the west of ireland and this 4^th Oct was the 50^th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik it must be one of the first world events I remember and I found a track on the PMN that reminds me of this. The new version of Google earth not only incorporates a free Flight Simulator game, but has a Sky View setting that maps out all the stars and planets. If you haven't used GE check it out soonest.

Bio:Podsafe Music Network - Spaghetti Cake
Spaghetti Cake is an original rock band for the whole family from Connecticut. They are a touring group that performs for children and parents in schools and festivals all across New England. Their music is pure rock & roll, (which surprisingly they say) appealing to adults as much as kids. They released 2 CDs, "Jam Food" & "Sunflower". Under the children genre on the PMN.

Music: Man in the moon

Travelling around the county since I got back, I picked up some the news.

My hopes that F&M had been contained quickly and cleanly have been dashed by the extending of the watch area to East Berkshire. Although just a protection measure, it is disruptive for many leisure activities and this was re-enforced when travelling across Windsor Great park where the road passes right through the centre and they provide car parking and walking routes around the Queens estate. Well the car parking was barred and the footpaths closed, a disappointment for many people.

And the Farmer’s fears over spread of foot and mouth - Get Wokingham Wokingham Times reports that a farmer in Fichampstead, a burb south of Wok is asking to close a footpath across his farm and permission has been refused, as he is told we are outside the surveillance zone. I have sympathy for the farmer who , apparently, breeds rare cattle, but this is a part of the current mess, most footpaths run, in part across farmland and if they are all closed, then access for walking outside the towns would be restricted to the roadside, as it is in many parts of Ireland, where walkers and traffic are often forced to mix, a bit like oil and water, it is to be sure..

Talking of Finchampstead I see that the TVP have been busy.

Motorists have been taking part a “road safety event” run by Thames Valley Police and Wokingham Borough Council.

This 'event', as it is described in their press release,lved three and a half hours of speed checks Thurs 4th October 2007 at two sites near Finchampstead with 30mph speed limits. 34 motorists were stopped for driving above that limit the along Nine Mile Ride fines of £60 and three penalty points were issued to nine drivers. 25 were cautioned by police and received “education” from the Wokingham Borough Council Road Safety Officer. 15 motorists were stopped on Finchampstead Road. 3 were issued with a fixed penalty notice and 12 received a caution and similar education.

They note fastest recorded speed on Nine Mile Ride was 46mph and on Finchampstead Road 45mph.

And all over Wokingham the police are to clamp down on bad driving at school crossings

Police in Wokingham are warning drivers that if they fail to stop at school crossings face three penalty points, a fine of up to £1,000 and the loss of their license.

The advice comes after School Crossing Patrollers, or ‘lollipop’ persons as they are better known, complained to Wokingham Borough Council that an increasing number of drivers are failing to stop at crossing patrols.

And separately, although maybe it is connected. As I remember a story of a friends colleague would was so zonked one Monday morning after a night before, that when he complained to colleagues about the state of road locally they had to point out that a mini-roundabout had been installed over the weekend.

Anyway:

The number of people drinking or drugging and then driving in the Thames Valley remains too high according to figures compiled from a summer campaign run between Monday 30 July and Sunday 2 September

A total of 1,446 motorists were breath tested as part of the national crackdown on drink driving. 213 drivers (15 per cent) were subsequently arrested, including those who failed to give a sample of breath. Of course there is no drugalizer, except the good old fashioned walk the white chalk line.

There are lots more statistics in the TVP press release.

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/default.asp?dismode=article&apage=22&artid=12129

Mc WiFi

Being a techie person I was interested to hear that McD joins Wetherspoons (the pub restaurant chain) in offering Free Wi-Fi, there is only BK in Wok, no McD, the nearest is in Bracknell Town Centre where they have a big sign announcing WIFI has arrived there, although when I was in Bedford I saw no similar sign. However whereas Weatherspoons only offers a half hour session for free, McD is, apparently, making it unlimited. I'm don't know it is that simple and I together with other commentators am not sure I would be comfortable with all those kiddies, and even older flying, around my laptop computer with McFluurries in their sticky hands.

http://mcdonalds.co.uk/pages/global/wifi.html

While bizarre stories surrounding the continuing disappearance of Madeline McCann still appear in the press, there is Good News of Samantha Osborn who was found safe and well (from Buckinghamshire BCU)

Samantha, a 16-year-old from Buckingham whose disappearance I reported previously, was reported missing in April, has been found safe and well. She phoned the National Missing Person’s helpline in the afternoon on the (3/Oct) and was then put in contact with Thames Valley Police.

A spokesman said: “Sam has been missing for several months and we have been increasingly concerned about her well being. I would like to use this opportunity to thank the media for their continued support in keeping her disappearance in the public domain.” Hopefully we did our bit to help.

What WBC events I missed:

1. food festival mud Cantley House Hotel and the Sultan Balti ran food demonstrations, there was live music. It did leave its mark on Elms Field which is normally only used for such events in the summer. But as the green spaces of Wokingham are gobbled up the Council struggle to find places for marques and the like. And Elms field itself is likely to be built over shortly if the developers get their way.

1. Circus mucks up elms field even more, but the wood shavings help ease the mud.

1. borough in bloom prizes presented

A New chief executive, Ms Susan Law who was appointed in early September will be moving down from Doncaster.

1. national poetry day, and prizes awarded

1. mayors banquet

WBC website wins acclamation – maybe my help helped

Wokingham Borough Council’s website is working well – and Wokingham residents are more likely than any other unitary authority’s residents to use the website as their main source of council information according to a press release.

out of all the UK unitary authorities, Wokingham has the highest percentage of residents who use the council’s website as their main source of council information.  At 24 per cent,

And good old fashioned paper was Commended as well.

Residents also said the most popular way for them to find out about council services in Wokingham was through council leaflets and newsletters (44 per cent).  This also places Wokingham Borough Council in the top quartile of all local authorities, suggesting that the council is succeeding in producing printed information that people find useful and easy to read.

The Wokingham letter bomber was tracked down and appeared in court.

UK Blog aggregator. http://www.britishblogs.co.uk/search/miles%20cooper/

brings us a link to the story at http://mreugenides.blogspot.com/

Miles Cooper, 27 from Cambridge a primary school caretaker sent a series of letter bombs to protest against "overbearing" state control over individuals, he told a court.,, said he had been angry at authorities and "very concerned about the direction my country was heading in". He said

Mr Cooper told the jury, his anger at the country's authorities had intensified when his father Clive was unable to have DNA samples removed from the police database, even though he had been cleared in 2003 of assault. "I felt my father had been used and I felt unable to do anything about it," he said. Now if he had been in Scotland his DNA would not have been kept according to other reports on the new English and Welsh DNA database that holds DNA info on “anyone who helps police with their enquires”.

Mr Cooper added that prior to this, he had campaigned about government's proposals to introduce ID cards, but that his approach changed after the episode with his father. It certainly did!

He sent a series of seven letter bombs, including one to a Wokingham accountancy firm Vantis, injuring a worker, has been jailed.

During his trial at Oxford Crown Court, the jury heard from Richard Gorringe, who works at in Oaklands Park and opened one the letter bombs.

In follow up to an earlier story: Reading Borough Council has agreed to quash its controversial traffic regulation order which would have made the Reading inner distribution road (IDR) one-way.

And footpads are alive and well in the Thames Valley. Hang on to your laptop in Slough, and your handbag and your number plates in Bracknell.

Police are appealing for witnesses after two boys on bicycles tried to steal a girl’s handbag as she walked in Bracknell.

15-year-old girl was walking through the underpass when she was approached from behind by two youths on pedal cycles. They rode up so there was one on each side of her, and one of the youths tried to grab her handbag. However, the girl managed to pull the bag out of his grasp and ran away.

The boys are white, aged 14 to 16 and 5ft tall. The one who tried to steal the bag is slim with a local accent and a high-pitched voice. He was wearing a beige balaclava, a hoody and was riding a silver bicycle.

First it was mystery manhole thefts and now number plates

Bracknell Forest police area, said: “We’ve been getting up to three reports a week of number plates being stolen from vehicles. Sometimes both plates are missing, but usually only one is taken. “Our investigations have shown that the number plates are not being used on stolen cars, or to avoid parking tickets, speed camera fines or the congestion charge cameras in London.

BTW it is amazing the number of passing comments I am hearing from Americans about UK surveillance cameras. More of that later

They continue. “We are therefore appealing to the public for information about who could be taking the plates and why. “It has been suggested that vehicle registration plates may be used to reinforce the bottom of skateboards, but this has not been confirmed. “Some time ago, there was a craze amongst young people for collecting the badges from cars, and we are wondering if the number plate thefts are another fad.”

And from the dept of the “stating the bleeding obvious”

The TVP wish to remind parents that BB guns don't make good toys- High Wycombe

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/default.asp?dismode=article&apage=23&artid=12125

A spokesman said: “In light of recent shootings, a BB gun is not an ideal toy and although they look like harmless fun, we are appealing to parents not to buy them and to think of a more constructive toy.”

No suggestions were made.

ADD Recording from CG84

Cranky Geeks John C. Dvorak's crowd of cranky geeks were discussing the, and said that the with the England being covered by cameras no crime went un monitored, and about waste of time of CA cops spend chasing Johns with stake out and stings. Well Slough police report they are using ASBO's to tackle street prostitution.

In our “Green Space Watch” Segment

Elms field a mud bath. Well not quite but its getting there.

Bungalow blaze was arson

Arsonists may be responsible for a blaze at a derelict bungalow in Old Forest Road where, surprise, a developer wants to build 34 homes. The house in was gutted by the blaze, which fire-fighters think was started deliberately. It'ss one of six in the road owned by developer George Wimpey, which has applied to Wokingham Borough Council to knock them down and build 34 houses and flats.
Residents living near the disused houses say they have attracted vandalism and underage drinking.

Check out the WT website for more on that story.

But, on the up side, that green handkerchief space that is your front garden is the new open space and must be celebrated.

Now in its ninth year, the wok in bloom competition has gone from strength to strength and aims to reward gardeners who work hard to brighten up their local community ( they are certainly needed, if they don't do it, who will). Mary Jenno and Bob Mould from the Wokingham Horticultural Association joined Cllr Annette Drake to judge the competition.

Winner of the Best Summer Display for Front Garden was Tim Downes of Barkham Road in Wokingham. The judges noted ‘his garden is a delight to passing folk'. I guess this may be the Tim I know well for our local, but haven't seen recently, and who is a regular runner, a bit like Nigel Staffordshire who does a regular podcast that I enjoy at http://runningfromthereaper.com

His theme music has always captured our ears and I intended to ask him what it was, then I heard it on RTE introducing the Sports programme and then again on a TV advert back here. Curious I thought, then AC played it on the DSC 662 and attributed it to the PMN. It is up there as well as elsewhere such as MySpace. There record label is Wichita Recordings who have a chunk of artists up on the PMN with many tracks from each.

There are four mixes of “young folks” on the PMN this is the diplo remix Sep. 5 2007 Alternative Pop

Their Bio: Peter, Bjorn and John were formed in Stockholm in the late 90s. Björn and Peter had known each other for ages and were tired of playing their songs without a drummer. Enter John, who was not only a brilliant drummer but actually a full time member of internationally acclaimed percussion collective Kroumata.

Podsafe Music Network - peter, bjorn and john

 

Wichita Recordings They have a chunk of artists on the PMN and many tracks from each.

And check out the WBC website for more on the following stories.

The Borough libraries have been and are about to be very busy.

Library News -

Spread the Word at Wokingham libraries

to encourage library users to swap reader recommendations. The Spread the Word scheme was launched at Lower Earley Library as a pilot in March and such has been its success that it will now be available at all the borough’s libraries. It offers readers the chance to fill in recommendation cards with details of their favourite books and why they like them – these are then posted up around the library for other readers to take advantage of.

Sounds a great idea, and one that surely lends itself to webalisation in this media savvy age.

Also on the card are DVD movie nights, family learning, fun baby sessions, book start day, computer training courses, and there will also be four technology events at Wokingham Library next year. These will be on “Using your digital camera”, “Using your mobile phone”, “Using eBay” and “Managing your money” and details will be published in the new year. 

Hillside school visit RSSL a place I only know of from chocolate tasting

Pupils at Hillside Primary School shape the future of food

The report says:

A group of gifted and talented pupils from Hillside Primary School in Lower Earley donned lab coats and safety glasses when they visited a high-tech food laboratory to gain an insight into food manufacturing.

20 pupils from year five and six met scientists, technologists and food experts from project sponsors RSSL to work on a food design project which aims to help pupils understand key aspects of food safety and nutrition, and the environmental impact of global food distribution and packaging. During the eight-month long project each team will have approximately £75 to design their product including the packaging Over the coming months, pupils will be working on the project with the help of volunteers from RSSL.

Pupils will design a food product as well as producing a video diary and a community video or leaflet which discuss the ‘human footprint’ of designing food products and packaging.

“We hope the children will develop their own entrepreneurial skills but they must also understand their responsibilities as business people to the consumer and to the community.”

RSSL said: “We wanted to do something really special to mark RSSL’s 20th birthday

And the Borough has welcomed 100 new teachers to various schools at a special event.

Nearly 100 new teachers started their careers in the Wokingham Borough this month and were given a warm welcome at the ceremonies, organised by Wokingham Borough Council, on September 19 and 20.

The newly qualified teachers (NQTs) were introduced to Wokingham Borough Council, which will be supporting

them during their careers at the borough’s schools.

http://Mediaforum.ie Dave Dunn discuss media studies in schools. If anyone can help Dave, click the link.

council pledge action on the Danger of A boards.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to get "dangerous" A-boards removed from Wokingham town centre say the backing of council bosses is a step in the right direction.

Wokingham Area Access Group says some A-boards make it difficult for people with mobility problems to get around safely.

On the national front, no not the National Front, but things that affect us in Wokingham that come from on high. Upping of age for fags to 18.

And later this Month in WBC

Look out for news of Wokingham's first Age Conference.

Karen Jackson, head of disability and older people’s services, said: “The idea of turning the annual conference into a celebration came from the older people’s forums who wanted to highlight the positive aspects of age. There is a perception that old age is about ill health and decline, but that is completely wrong. In the Wokingham borough older people are incredibly active and play an important role in the community and this conference will highlight that.” Everybody is welcome at the conference, which will take place at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Rushey Way, Lower Earley, from 10am to 4pm on Thursday October 18.

Flooding grant check the WBC website if you were affected and haven't heard that there may by some extra help available from the government via WBC

Dinton pastures consultation has now closed and but they have open a new bird watching hide for Bitten, no web-cam yet.

They held a customer service week

and a road show on child safety seat checking.

With reports just coming in of a mini boom in private jet sales being attributed to the Rugby world cup currently taking place in France, and despite the disappointment of of the Irish at being knocked out too early, with the England vs France coming up this weekend it is still a good time to report the TVP reminder:

Don't Pay the Penalty during the Rugby World Cup.

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/default.asp?dismode=article&apage=32&artid=12032

Police and the NHS are urging people to enjoy the Rugby World Cup safely this month.

“There is a hardcore minority who will use it as a reason to drink to excess. When people are drunk they lose their inhibitions and people can be a risk to themselves and others.” Those who drink too much and step out of line can expect to be issued with an £80 fixed penalty ticket or even be arrested

And to think Chris Vallance said Wokingham was a “bit traditional” when he interviewed me at podcampUK for on BBC radio 5 pods & blogs programme, part of which was aired recently. BBC - Radio - Help - What is a podcast?

I'll finish with a another Maria Daines track who I played last time but forget to mention she is UK based, and more bio

Maria Daines Grass is Greener Dec. 18 2006 Folk Rock

and also has some new music up on the PMN

 

Don't FORGET

Visit our website for links to the items mentioned here, find us at at inwokingham.podshow.com. You can sign up free of charge make comments and give news tips I will incorporate in future shows. Also please visit inWokingham on PodcastAlley.com -- The place to find Podcasts

and vote for inWokingham during the October voting round.

I'll see you on the next episode and in the meantime "cheers from inWokingham"

Music: Grass is Greener Dec. 18 2006 Folk Rock Podsafe Music Network - Maria Daines

Recorded: Ad for TSSS

Do you like music, do you want free music for your Ipod, Mp3 player or media centre, we can help fill that need with a new show playing rock&roll, folk, country, and all the variety of the PMN. Each episode looks at one style and provides pointers to more of the same. Check it out at SpecialSelection.podshow.com